Boating safety crucial when hitting state waterways
MURFREESBORO — If you’re planning to be on the water this summer, water rescue experts are issuing reminders about aquatic safety, whether you’re in a small craft or motorized boat.
“You need to be aware of the hazards (in water) and be prepared for them,” said Andrea White, Tennessee American Canoe Association director and a certified instructor. “We are passionate about (boating). We want to get people into the sport, but people need to take water seriously as a force of nature.”
In Tennessee, White said, accidents and fatalities related to water are almost universally related to no experience and lack of a personal flotation device.
On Sunday, a 4-yearold boy was seriously injured after being struck by a propeller from a rented pontoon while swimming in Douglas Lake in Jefferson County. He was flown to University of Tennessee Medical Center and his condition is unknown. The accident is under investigation.
A North Carolina man drowned in Douglas Lake in early June when his pontoon boat began drifting away from him, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department. He was not wearing a life jacket.
“There’s a mindset that is happening across the country that as the equipment gets less expensive and more accessible, the sport must be an easy sport . ... So people aren’t taking water hazards seriously,” said White, who trains beginning boaters about hazards as well as safety techniques.
Inexperienced boaters don’t understand the hazards of water.
“We don’t want to scare people off the water, but we want to train them to be safe . ... If there’s an eddy line or a current moving underneath the top layer of water, it can take over when you least expect it,” said White, whose organization’s low-cost classes instruct boaters about what to look for and how to react.
Even if you are not a trained boater, wearing a life jacket is the first line of defense if there’s an accident — much like there’s a need for drivers to wear a seat belt.
“There’s an assumption that if you’re going to a lake or slow-moving water that it won’t be dangerous,” White said. “You never plan to have a car accident. You never plan for something to happen on the water. You’ve got to be ready (by wearing a life jacket) just in case.”
In addition to inexperience, boating under the influence can cause accidents.
Operation Dry Water
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is promoting Operation Dry Water throughout the July 4 holiday weekend to bring awareness about boating under the influence. The national campaign is focused on reducing alcohol- and drugrelated accidents and fatalities.
TWRA boating officers will saturate high-traffic areas on reservoirs across the state. Along with the use of life jackets and other safety practices, officers want boaters to be aware of the effects and ramifications of alcohol use.
In 2018, during Operation Dry Water, there were nine boating under the influence arrests across Tennessee. Operating a boat with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or higher is illegal in Tennessee, the same as operating a motor vehicle. Penalties may include fines, jail, boat impoundment and the loss of boat driving privileges.
Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in recreational boater deaths. Sun, wind, noise, vibration and motion intensify the effects of alcohol, drugs and some medications.
For more information on the campaign, visit operationdrywater.org.
To learn more about paddling, visit the American Canoe Association at facebook.com/acatennessee/. You’ll also find information regarding classes at the Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association at facebook.com/ Tnscenicrivers/.
Boating safety tips
The next time you head out on the water, consider the following safety tips from Murfreesboro Fire & Rescue:
❚ Never forget your U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket. This is the law.
❚ Waterproof your phone. Many inexpensive protective phone cases are available. If you do not have a phone case, try a plastic seal-tight bag. This is also a good place for a wallet and flashlight.
❚ Tell a family member or a friend where you are going and when you plan to return. “Plan your paddling, and paddle your plan.”
❚ Always pack a flashlight. Even if you plan accordingly, darkness could fall.
❚ When in the river and lakes, watch for motorized boats. Motorized boaters may find it difficult to see smaller kayaks.
❚ Be careful in current. Inexperienced kayakers can quickly find themselves pinned against trees or rocks. Many times if kayakers cannot maneuver quickly, they can also find themselves in the water. If this is the case, swim to shore quickly. You can retrieve the kayak later or have another boater fetch the kayak for you. Keep in mind that swimming in open waters is not the same as swimming in a pool. You need to be aware of uneven surfaces and river currents, especially after heavy rains and rising waters.
❚ Stay away from low dams. Public safety personnel refer them to “human washing machines.”
❚ Never dive into rivers and lakes, especially if you are unfamiliar with the depth or what might be hidden under the surface. There could be rocks, logs and other sharp objects.
❚ As the summer ends and the fall begins, have extra clothes packed. As the water and air temps fall, hypothermia can become possible. Water and air temperature below 70 degrees can mean trouble if you find yourself wet in this climate for a period of time.
Monica Kast and Hays Hickman with the Knoxville News Sentinel contributed to this story.
Reach Nancy Degennaro at degennaro@ dnj.com.